Directory of Photographers 1856-1979
Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan
Introduction to this book:
This book was compiled by the Library Services Committee of the Western
Michigan Genealogy Society almost 30 years ago.
The purpose of this book is to provide a listing of Grand Rapids area portrait
photographers as a genealogical tool for dating old photographs. This list is
compiled from City Directories and no attempt was made to correct any apparent
error or spelling variation. Sincere thanks to all those who helped on this
project: Elda Baker, Marion DeKlein, Kathryn Greene, Bill Hill, Jan Hulbert and
Roma Nowak.
For genealogical information on some of these photographers see
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=grcity
Abbreviations from City Directories:
Suburban Abbreviations:
| apt | apartment | B | Beverly - Sec 11 Wyoming Twp |
| af | avenue | CS | Comstock Park |
| bk | bank | EGR | East Grand Rapids |
| bldg | building | GH | Godwin Heights |
| blk | block | K | Kentwood |
| blvd | boulevard | L | Lowell |
| cor | corner | NP | North Park |
| ct | court | S | Sparta |
| dr | drive | W | Wyoming |
| e or E | East | Wkr | Walker |
| EGR | East Grand Rapids | WP | Wyoming Park |
| es | east side | WTwp | Wyoming Twp |
| fl | floor | ||
| flr | floor | ||
| GR | Grand Rapids | ||
| GRTwp | Grand Rapids Township | ||
| mgr | manager | ||
| Mich | Michigan | ||
| n or N | north | ||
| Natl | National | ||
| ne or NE | North East | ||
| nr | near | ||
| ns | north side | ||
| nw or NW | North West | ||
| pk | park | ||
| r | resides or rooms | ||
| rm | room | ||
| rd | road | ||
| s or S | South | ||
| se or SE | South East | ||
| sq | square | ||
| sw or SW | South West | ||
| ter | terrace | ||
| twp | township | ||
| w or W | West | ||
| ws | west side |
South Grand Rapids - Burton Heights, Sec 12 Wyoming Twp
I have to admit that 55 W Bridge got my attention.
1876-1878 – Luther V Moulton
1878-1879 – Wm Quartermass
1879-1880 – John Goossen
1880-1881 – Barrows & Son
1881-1883 – Barrow, J C
1884-1886 - no photographer found for this address.
1887 –1890 E J McDermand
1892-1896 - O A Gillett
1897- Samuel Sharpsteen
1898 – Carl Ericson
1899 – D H Filkins
1901-1902 Benjamin DeVries
1903- J G DeVries
1905 - Enterprise Studio
1906-1907 F M Findlay
1908-1911 – JT Chibiki
1912 - Parisian Dye House at 345 Bridge St NW near Mt. Vernon Avenue NW
For the new addressing system implemented in 1912 see
Addressing Rules
Bibliography
Business Directory of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan for the Year 1856.
W A Robinson, pub., 1856
Williams' Grand Rapids Directory, City Guide and Business Mirror, Vol I.
1859-60.
C S Williams, comp., 1859.
Grand Rapids city Directory and Business Mirror 1865-66.
J A French and M T Ryan, 1865.
Holland's Grand Rapids City Directory for 1867-8,. Western Publishing Co. 1867.
Directory for 1868-9 of the City of Grand Rapids
Dudley and Goldsmith, pub. 1868
Directory of the City of Grand Ra[ids for 1870-1.
J D Dillenback & Co
Godfrey's Annual City Directory of Grand Ra[ids, Mich 1872-3. 1872
Grand Rapids Directory 1873-74. Burch, Polk & Co 1873
Grand Rapids Directory 1874-75. Polk, Murphy & Co. 1874
Grand Rapids City Directory 1875-6. Murphy & Co. 1875
Grand Rapids City and Kent County Directory, 1876-7. Murphy & Co. 1876
Grand Rapids City Directory 1877-1979 Polk
Polk's Grand Raids Suburban Directory 1952-1979
No known city directories were published for the years 1861-1867, 1869-1872.
The Grand Rapids Public Library does not have the following years: 1947, 1950,
1952, 1957.
In 1912, the City of Grand Rapids and later the County of Kent adopted a uniform house
numbering system still in use today. The 1912 City Directory includes a special
cross-index of corresponding old and new numbers. Do not confuse this with the
over 600 street name changes starting in 1857. See addressing changes under
Geography
Addressing Rules.
From Heading Genealogy and the City of Grand Rapids
From web site: MyCityofGrandRapids.info Home